Eating Pig’s Head (Terrine), Talking Nascar

If you are ever looking for the world’s best airport food court, you could do worse than to visit the Gotham West Market, the blocklong complex that opened on 11th Avenue by 44th Street in November. There you’ll find high-end branded ramen, upmarket coffee, a kiosk named for the borough of Brooklyn and another named for one of the borough’s streets, where workers and other slurpers from the Far West Side circulate in predatory patterns through the cavernous, music-filled mall or take their places at counters or communal tables. The market joins Eataly and the Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel in making culinary New York more amenable to people who — no names, please — can’t make up their minds about where to eat. Next up are food courts in Battery Park City and Hudson Yards, and a proposed food mall by Anthony Bourdain.

“It’s certainly the way I think things are going,” said Cory Lane, managing partner of the Cannibal Hell’s Kitchen, an offshoot of the meat-and-beer joint on East 29th Street (Cannibal is the nickname of the bicycle racer Eddy Merckx; the owners are cycling fans). “It gives you a lot more options. Sometimes people like the idea of being noncommittal, in the sense of, if I’m with four other people and we go to a place with eight styles of dining under one roof, nobody has to commit to just one thing.” On a rainy Tuesday, the Cannibal’s lunch counter filled slowly.

IN THE SEATS Two creative directors from Ogilvy & Mather, which in 2008 moved to a former chocolate factory just north on 11th Avenue. They were happy to have the food court in their neighborhood. “It’s only delis and pubs around here,” said Rich Wallace, 44. “Strip joints, cars and Daisy May’s barbecue,” said Terry Finley, 47, who was visiting the food court for the first time. They walked around the hall before settling on the Cannibal. The men wore casual shirts that you won’t find on the admen on TV. “It’s not ‘Mad Men,’ ” Mr. Finley said. “Me and suits don’t get along.”

ON THE PLATES The two shared an order of brussels sprouts with mint and ham gremolata ($9), a Cuban sandwich with pig’s head terrine ($12) and a pulled chicken sandwich with melted Cheddar and Gouda, bitter greens and buttermilk yuzu ranch dressing ($12). Mr. Wallace said he was not scared by a pig’s head on his bread. “I didn’t really think about it until you brought it up,” he said. “I think the pig’s probably not too happy with it.”

WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT Who among us doesn’t like Nascar? Don’t look at Mr. Wallace and Mr. Finley — they spent lunch talking about their planned commercials for the racing circuit. “It’s my job to be a Nascar fan,” Mr. Finley said. A goal of the spots, Mr. Wallace said, was to show that the drivers were true elite athletes. “A lot of people think all they do is drive around in circles, so they don’t get credit for the fact that they’re enduring three G’s and putting their lives on the line,” he said. “They’re not looked up to on the same level as a LeBron James.” Plus they drive around in circles really fast. “They do just drive around in circles really fast,” Mr. Wallace said. “And really scary,” Mr. Finley said. “And really dangerous.”